Timer



April 19,1927. 7 1,624,979

, A. E. RICHARDS TIMER Filed Dec. 17, 1924 J9 a we 0 1 30 v a I n 9 o a?4' A 3, 91 JO INVENTOR WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED #S'T A'l: ES 1 AT ENT 4-0 F-Fl CE I TIMER.

. 7 Application filed December 17,121924. Serial.No. .75f,580.

This inventionrelates to attachment or accessories tor use in.connection with 111-11.

ternal combustion engines and has for its object the provision of anovel timer or distributor in which all the contacts for the respectivespark plugs are formed as 01' provided with rollers successivelyengageable by a roller which constitutes the grounded terminal, theadvantage being that the provision of the rollers will tend to avoidwear and insure proper operation of the device for a longer period oftime.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character whichwill be very simple in manufacture, easy to install, positive in action,efiicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

\Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevation of atimer constructed in accordance to myinvention, the view looking at the inside thereof, a part being brokenaway and in section,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view,

Figure 3 is a detail View of the rotatable contact arm, and

Figure 4 is av fragmentary elevation looking at the inside and showingthe location of the rollers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown the device ascomprising a cap designated broadly by the numeral 10 and termed ofmetal. This cap includes a conical end portion 11 and a cylindricalflange portion 12. Secured within the confines of the flange portion 12are three concentric rings 13, 14 and 15 of suitable insulating materialsuch as fibre orthe like. At spaced points, the ring 13 is formed withholes 16 while the rings 1 1 and 15 are formed with recesses 17 andopenings 18, respectively.

Extending radially through the structure thus formed are elongatedthreaded shanks 19 which pass through suitable bushings 20 of insulatingmaterial in the flange portion 12- and which terminate in an enlargedforked head 21 within which are journaled suit-able rollers 22 ofconducting material. The members 19 constitute terminals and they areequipped with binding nuts 23 whereby the ignition wires may be suitablyconnected therewith. The rollers 22 are located within therecesses- 17and .proiect through the openings 18 into the interior of the device insuch position as to be disposed in the path of travel oi a roller 24:journally mounted within the forked end 25 oi an arm 26 which is ofangular formation and which is pivot-ed at 27 upon an extension 28 of acollar 29 mounted on the cam shaft 30 of an engine. The arm 26 is ofangular formation and connected with one end thereof is a coil spring 31which has its other end connected with a second extension32 on thecollar 29 so that the roller 2 l'will always be urged into engagementwith the contact 22 as the arm 25 rotates with the cam shaft.

In the operation, it will be obvious that the spark plug wires areconnected with the respective members 19 by means of the binding nuts 28thereon. The roller 24 constitutes the ground contact and it will beobvious that when the cam shaftsis rotating during the running of themotor the engagement of the roller 24: on the arm 2:3 with thesuccessive rollers 22 will cause the high tension current to be passedthrough the spark plugs so that a spark will be pro duced in the usualmanner to ignite'the ere plosive charge in the engine cylinders.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a simply con structed, inexpensiveand very eiiicient de vice for the purpose specified, the constructionand arrangement being 't'urthermore such that in case of wear of theparts they may be readily replaced by new ones'so that the length of thelife of the device will be greatly increased.

\Vhile I have shown and described th preferred embodiment of theinvention. should be understood that I reserve the right to make suchchanges in the form. construction and arrangement of parts as will notdepart from the, spirit ot the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaim.

Having thus described the invention. claim: 2 I

I In a timer of the character described, a metallic shell member, a ringof'insulating material located within and against the inner periphery ofsaid shell, concentric rings of insulating material located within oneanother and within the confines of said first named insulating ring,said concentric of said bushings, a shaft journaled at the center of theshell, an angle lever pivotall mounted with respect to the shaft andcarrying a roller adapted to coact with said first named rollers, an armcarried by the shaft, and a spring connected with the angle lever andsaid arm for normally urging the last named roller into cooperativerelation to the first named rollers.

In testimony whereof I aflix mv signature.

ARNOLD E. RICHARDS.

